Ducks' Ryan says he wants out; Visnovsky traded

Instead of trumpeting his selection in Friday's NHL draft, Ducks general manager Bob Murray found himself having to deal with an angry star who wouldn't mind the trade rumors surrounding him to come true.

Bobby Ryan lashed out at Ducks management Friday, suggesting that the Philadelphia Flyers would be a nice landing spot for him if he were to be moved. Reports are that the Ducks are again fielding offers for the perennial 30-goal scorer.

Speaking with the New Jersey-based Courier-Post, Ryan sounded fed up and of the belief the Ducks don't want him for the long term even though the two agreed to a five-year, $25.5-million contract extension before the 2010-11 season.

"I take things personally," Ryan told the newspaper. "Anaheim to me has been a team over the past year that really has shown me nothing to prove that they want me here, unfortunately.

"Obviously, it's not the ideal situation. When you get drafted, you want to win championships with that team and every time they look to add a piece to the puzzle, I'm the piece going the other way.

"I gotta be honest with you. At this point, I don't care. Move me ... because it's just tough going to the rink every day knowing that if something goes wrong, you're going to be the guy moved."

In the article, Ryan talked the possibility of playing for the team he grew up rooting for from his south New Jersey home across the Delaware River. His family has maintained a long friendship with Flyers executive Bobby Clarke.

The Flyers have coveted Ryan for years and reportedly are among several teams ready to deal. ESPN.com reported that winger James van Riemsdyk was offered to the Ducks as a centerpiece but Murray wanted center Brayden Schenn instead.

"Everybody wants to play in your hometown, but it would be tough because a lot of expectations come when you're put into a situation like that," Ryan told the newspaper. "For me, if I'm moved, Philadelphia would be a very ideal and comfortable place for me."

In a conference call with reporters from the draft, Murray contained his own anger after getting wind of his winger's criticism.

"I'd just like to say I'm disappointed at this time by these comments," he said. "I intend to talk to Bobby personally when we get back from the draft and clear the air a little bit. And that's all I have to say at this present time."

Ryan had just 57 points last season after recording a career-high 71 in 2010-11 but he still managed 31 goals and has scored at least that many in each of his four full NHL seasons.

The Ducks had thoughts of trading him last November but ultimately pulled him off the market after firing coach Randy Carlyle. Ryan responded under Bruce Boudreau, scoring 24 goals and 45 points in his last 58 games.

Ryan's comments overshadowed the move of veteran defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky and the surprising selection of 18-year-old Swedish blue-liner Hampus Lindholm with the sixth pick in the draft.

The Ducks sent Visnovsky to the New York Islanders for a second-round pick in the 2013 draft. Nagging injuries contributed to Visnovsky having a down season in 2011-12 as he had just six goals and 21 assists in 68 games.

Visnovsky had a career year in 2010-11 in which he had 18 goals, 50 assists and a plus-18 rating that earned him Norris Trophy consideration. He will be 36 in August and Murray stated a desire to get younger on the blue line.

"It's a hockey move," Murray said. "We're attempting to change a little bit of the look of the defense. It's one step at a time. This is pretty much the first step in trying to change the look on that back end."

Moving Visnovsky will save the Ducks $3 million in salary and erase a $5.6-million salary cap hit. Murray said he'll use the money toward filling that hole, though it's unclear if he will take a run at Nashville's Ryan Suter, a pending top free agent.

Lindholm was expected to go in the middle of the first round but the Ducks took him ahead of Mathew Dumba of the Red Deer Rebels and Jacob Trouba of the U.S. under-18 team.

"We're very happy and delighted to have this young man," Murray said. "We think he is going to be a quality player for a long time."

The teenager will play with Rogle, his Swedish pro club, when it moves to the country's top league next season.

"I had talked with Anaheim before, so I knew they were interested," Lindholm said. "I didn't know they were going to pick me so early. They said I should go between 10 and 15.

"Anaheim is a good team. It's going to be fun. It was happy moment to be picked sixth."